1. Were it not for poetry being scorned by scholars,
I would be today a greater poet than Labid.
١. وَلَولا الشِعرُ بِالعُلَماءِ يُزري
لَكُنتُ اليَومَ أَشعَرَ مِن لَبيدِ
2. And in battle bolder than any lion,
Or the tribe of Muhallab or the sons of Yazid.
٢. وَأَشجَعَ في الوَغي مِن كُلِّ لَيثٍ
وَآلِ مُهَلَّبٍ وَبَني يَزيدِ
3. And were it not for fear of the Lord my God,
I would deem all men to be my slaves.
٣. وَلَولا خَشيَّةُ الرَحمَنِ رَبّي
حَسِبتُ الناسَ كُلَّهُمُ عَبيدي